[O'kE chO'bE] is the fourth largest lake completely within the United States, and the largest in the Southern United States. Covering about 730 square miles (1,890 square kilometers) of south-central Florida, it has an average depth of only nine feet (three meters). There are several inflows, including Taylor Creek and the Kissimmee River, and several outflows, including the Miami River, the New River, and the Shark River. The surface is above sea level, and the lake is enclosed by a 20-foot-high dike.

Okeechobee is from the Seminole word for big water.

Lake Okeechobee was formed about 6,000 years ago, when ocean levels dropped and water was left standing in a limestone basin. The "original" lake was probably saline, but over time the salt water was replaced by freshwater from rainfall.

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This page was last updated on 04/27/2011.